Steam-engine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. v. RICE, J1. STEAM ENGINE., No. 536,393. Patented Mar. 26, 1895.

(No Model.)v l 2 sheets- Sheet z J. V. RICE, Jr. u

STEAM ENGINE.

No. 536,393. Patented Mar. 25, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT Ormes.

JOHN VIRTUE RICE, JR., OF EDGEWATER, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE TAYLOR-RICE ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 536,393, dated March 26, 1895. Application filed January 31, 1895. Serial No. .536,806. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN VIRTUE RICE, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Edgewater Park, in the county of Burlington and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam- Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled` in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to that class ofengines commonly known in the art of steam, as sector-cylinder or oscillating-piston steam engines, the essential feature of engines of this class being a sector shaped workingchamber in which a rectangular flat piston oscillates to and fro like a shutter or door on its hinge, the axis of oscillation being a rocking shaft on which the piston is fixed.

The object of my invention is to increase the eiiiciency of engines of this class andv make them capable of doing, stronger and better work.

The invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the several parts, substantially as will be hereinafter dscribed and then more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, illustrating my invention: Figure l is a front elevation of my improved'engine, one of the sector-cylinders being shown in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation on the line x of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the engine. Fig. 4 is an edge'or side elevation in partial section and taken on the line y y of Fig. 3.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout all the diierent figures of the drawings.

A, designates the 'main frame of the engine which may vary in size and shape as said cylinders or chambers being mounted on or secured to the frame A and situated at suitable distances apart and arranged arounda central point where the main shaft is located. I have chosen three chambers as an example simply. v There may be more. These sector-cylinders, steam chests, chambers, receptacles, or whatever they may be termed, the name being a matter of indifference, have two radial side-walls which join at one end and radiate therefrom, an outer wall connectving the outer ends of these radial sides, which plate or piston d rigidly secured on a rock shaft supported in suitable bearings at the junction of the radial sides of chest D. Within chest D2, is a similar piston d2, and within chest D2 is a similar piston d2. It will be understood that the edges of the piston plates d d2 d3 may be provided with spring packing devices r r-see Fig. 2-or with any other suitable packing to make the engagement of the edges with the wall of the chest, steam-tight. The intermittent impact of the steam or other motive iiuid or liquid alternately against the opposite sides of these pistons vibrates them and by suitable connections 'whicli I shall presently describe the power resulting from these vibrations is communicated to the main driving shaft.

B denotes the main shaft which is supported horizontally in main frame A. See Fig. 2. This shaft carries at one end pulley O and wheel O, and at the other end the crank B', and the balance weight B2. The crank B is provided with the horizontalcrank pin b. The rock shaft or journal of piston d is provided on the outside of the chest with a crank arm o', and the connecting rod G connects arm o` with crank pin b. The journal of piston d2 is provided on the outside of its chest with a crank arm o2, and a connecting rod G2 con- IOO nects arm o2 with pin b. lThe journal of piston d2 is provided on the outside of its chest with a crank arm 02, and a connecting rod G2 connects arm o3 with pin b. In this way all the pistons apply their power to a common central shaft.

E denotes a steam-supply chamber. It is of an annular form and surrounds the bearing of engine shaftB. See Fig. 2. This chamber is integral with another similar annular chamber F serving as an exhaust chamber. The two chambers are therefore located alongside of each other, being divided by a suitable partition and chamber E delivers steam to the several chests D', D2, D2, while chamber F receives the exhaust steam from said chests. The chamber E is provided with a live steam inlet e, and the chamber F with an exhaust outletf.

F F2 and F2 designate radially-arranged,

steam-supply pipes leading from the annular chamber E to the chests D', D2 and D2 respectively, said pipes in this particular example of my invention being bent as shown to allow them to be situated in the desired manner.

I', l2 and l2 denote exhaust ports or passages leading from the chests D', D2 and D3 respectively, to the exhaust chamber F. The curved wall of each of the three chests is provided with a valve that controls the supply and exhaust. l-l, Il2 and H2 denote these valves belonging to the chests D D2 and D3 respectively. These valves are ordinary plug valves having any suitable construction. They are located at the points where the supply and exhaust passages enter.

Running from the valve toward each of the radial sides of the chest so as to deliver steam on either side of the piston, are the passages a d2. See the section of chest D in Fig. l. The valve is not only located between the terminals of the pipes a a2 but also between the terminals of the exhaust and inlet passages, as shown in Fig. l, so that by turning the valve, either of the passages d a2 may be pnt into communication with the steam inlet and likewise either of them may be pnt into communication with the exhaust. In other words when the valve is in one position it will con nect the passage a with the steam supply so that steam will be conveyed into the chest on one side of the piston, and it will simultaneously connect the passage d2 with the exhaust, so that the steam in chest on the advancing side of the piston may exhaust through passage a2. When the valve has been turned and caused to occupy its other position it will connect passage a2 with the steam supply and passage a with the exhaust, thus permitting steam to enter the chest on the other side of the piston and causing a reverse oscillation oi' the latter.

Mechanism for shifting the valves I-I H2 and H2 at the end of each stroke soasto insure the proper cutotl` is now to be described.

On the engine shaft B is an eccentric K and this is encircled by the eccentric strap lo. J denotes the governor wheel or casing on shaft L L2 L2 respectively, said rods being all connected to the eccentric strap lc, the rods L2 and L8 being connected pivotally, and the rod L rigidly. Connecting rod L supplies the place and function of an ordinary eccent tric rod in keeping the eccentric in place. While a pivotal connection therefore is sufficient for rods L2 and L2', it is not for rod L and therefore the end of the latter is inserted into a socket lr formed on the strap 7a which socket holds the rods stiff and rigid. It will be therefore obvious that the motion of the eccentric will move the rods L L2 and L3 and thus cause the valves ITI-12H2 to be properly shifted at the right time to allow the steam to work in the manner necessary to accomplish the rotation of the engine shaft.

The governor mechanism which is located within the governor wheel J consists essentially of the centrifugally and centripetally acting weights P P pivoted at the ends at p p and provided with the angular arms P P which are automatically adjustable on each other by a simple pin and slot connection. The weights P P have also a yielding connection consisting ot' a spring Q. One ofthe weights connects by link q with the eccentric. Said eccentric has a slot as shown which allows it to adjustitselt' on the shaft. Also the hub of wheel .I has an arm which is pivoted to the eccentric. /Vhen the speed of the shaft becomes too great the weights separate and this shifts the eccentric and tends to partly cut olf the steam. This brief description of this governor will be sufficient in this case as' l make no claim thereon, per se, and reserve the liberty of substituting for this particular governor any other kind that will suit my purpose.

By the multiple arrangement of `oscillating pistons around a common shaft, the stoppage of the shaft on a dead center is elfectually avoided. Also a verymuch higher speed and a larger efficiency are attained than are possible with a single oscillating piston or sector-cylinder. All the advantages possessed by this particular type of engine are multiplied in value by my arrangement, and by the provision of the numerous details which combine with the sector-cylinders and their pistons to make a complete engine, I attain many new benefits and provide an engine mechahism which for many purposes is unexcelled b v other forms.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The herein-described multiple sector cylinder engine, consisting in the combination with the central main crank shaft of the engine, of three or more double acting oscillating pistons for applying power to said shaft, arranged around the latter substantially equi- IIO or more separate and independent sectorshaped steam cylinders containing said pistons, and connecting rods which connect the main engine shaft with the crank-arms of each piston, together with a suitable cut-olf y mechanism, substantially as described.

2. The herein-described multiple sector cylders, substantially as described.

3. The herein-described multiple sector cylinder steam engine, consisting in the combination with a central drive shaft of the engine, of three or more double acting oscillating pistons for applying power to said shaft, arranged around the latter substantially equidistant from each other and from the shaft and located in substantially the same vertical plane, each of said pistons having its rock shaft provided with a crank arm, connecting rods which connect the main, shaft with the crank arms of each piston, a steam receptacle surrounding and adjacent to the engine shaft which receives its steam from the steam supply, con, duits or pipes leading from this receptacle to each of the cylinders, an exhaust receptacle' surrounding and adjacent to the engine shaft that receives the exhaust steam from the cylinders, valves in each cylinder that control the steam supply as well as the exhaust, and automatically operating cut-od mechanism between these valves and the main shaft, substantially as described.

4. In an engine, the combination of frame A, cylinders D D2 D2, pistons d d2 d2 therein, shaft B having crank B, connecting rods G G2 G2, steam chamber E and exhaust chamber F, pipes F F2 F3 leading from chamber E to the cylinders and exhaust passages I 12 12 leading from the cylinders to the exhaust chamber F, substantially as described.

5. In an engine, the combination of cylinders D' D2 D3 pistons CZ d2 d2 therein having rock shafts provided with arms o o2 o3, shaft B and the connecting rods between its crank and said arms, chambers E and F, pipes F F2 F2 leading from chamber E to the cylinders,

passagesl l2 I2 leading from cylinders to series of oscillating pistons and their sectorshaped cylinders, all arranged so as to vbe double acting and each piston having its rock shaft provided with a crank arm, the driving shaft of the engine, the connecting rods'between the piston arms and the drivingI shaft, an annular steam receptacle surrounding and adjacent to the shaft, pipes or conduits leading from said receptacle to each cylinder, an

l annularexhaust receptacle likewise surrounding and adjacent to the main shaft, passages leading from the cylinders to said receptacle, valves in each cylinder, controlling the supply and exhaust, eccentric links connected thereto, the eccentric and a governor, substantiallyas described.

7. Ther herein-described sector cylinder engine, consisting in the combination with a central shaft, of three or more double-acting oscillating pistons for applying power to said shaft, arranged around the lattersubstantially equidistant from each other and from the shaft and located in substantially the same vertical-plane, each of said pistons havingits rock shaft provided with a crank arm, three or more sector-shaped steam cylinders containing said pistons, connecting rods which connect the main shaft with the crank arm of each piston, plug valves located in each cylinder and having arms, rods attached to these arms and operated by the main shaft for the purpose of providing an automatic cut-off, an annular steam receptacle surrounding and adjacent to the main driving shaft, an annular exhaust receptacle likewise su rrounding and adjacent to the main shaft, and passages leading from the steam and exhaust receptacles to the several cylinders, substantially as described.

8. The herein-described multiple sector cylinder engine, consisting in the combination with the main central engine shaft, of three or more double-acting oscillating pistons for applying power to said shaft, arranged around the latter substantially equidistant from each other and from the shaft, three or more separate and independent sector-shaped steam cylinders containing said pistons, suitable connecting rods which connect the main shaft with the ,crank arms of, each piston, valves arranged in the several cylinders for controlling the supply and exhaust of the steam for each side of the piston, rods connected to said valves and operated automatically by the main shaft so that the cut-off may be automatic, a steam receptacle surrounding and adjacent to the main shaft, pipes running from said receptacle to the several cylinders, an exhaust receptacle likewise surrounding and adjacent to the main shaft, pipes leading from said exhaust receptacle to the several cylinders, all substantially as described.

9. In an engine, the combinationwith the main engine shaft, of a series of three or more sector shaped cylinders, arranged around the shaft, said cylinders being separate and independent from each other and each having its Io receptacle to the several cylinders, an exhaust receptacle likewise adjacent to the engine shaft, and exhaust pipes leading from the several cylinders to the said receptacle, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I attix my signature x5 in presence ot two witnesses.

JOI-IN VIRTUE RICE, JR.` Witnesses:

THEO. BRAsINGToN, ALICE A. EVANS. 

